If you tell a woman she can’t, there’s an almost certain chance that she will. Anyone who’s read a history book, or has a sister, should already know this.
Even running, one of the most inclusive sports you can find today, has a long history of saying no to women.
With competition dating back to 776 B.C. at the ancient Games in Greece, running had been a men’s-only event until less than 100 years ago when the IOC approved a 100-meter women’s race for the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam.
It wasn’t until 1967 that a woman had run the hallowed Boston Marathon as an officially-registered competitor. It was somewhat of an obstacle course race for Kathrine Switzer, who was famously photographed running through race officials trying to swipe away her race bib to disqualify her from competition.
Now, fast forward to last week’s world-renowned Barkley Marathons: A five-loop torture fest at Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee inspired by the 1977 prison escape of MLK Jr. assassin James Earl Ray. To be perfectly fair, Lazarus Lake didn’t create an event that discriminates against women, but rather one that discriminates against all of humanity.
Going into last week’s Barkley Marathons, the race had never seen a female finisher, dating back to its inaugural 100-mile race in 1989. But just when it seemed like the law of science itself was ready to count women out, British runner Jasmin Paris did the unthinkable: She completed the Barkley Marathons.
Paris, a 40-year-old mother of two, completed the race with less than 100 seconds to spare in the 60-hour time limit.
In the days, months and even years to come, I look forward to reading and learning the full story of her journey through the rugged mountains. But for now we’re left with an image of Paris, collapsed at the famous “yellow gate” finish line. She is wearing the exhausted face of someone who has traveled to hell and back, but you can feel from the photo a sense of achievement, much like Sylvester Stallone at the end of “Rocky.”
It’s one of those iconic sports images that will be burned into my memory forever, just like Kerri Strug landing the vault on an injured ankle at the 1996 Olympics, or Brandi Chastain ripping off her jersey in celebration after scoring the winning penalty kick at the 1999 World Cup.
Pure goosebumps.
Thanks to Jasmin Paris, our imaginations are once again left to wonder: Is there anything in this world that a woman “can’t” do?
Cumberland County runners have made their presence known in recent weeks, especially the road warriors crossing over state lines.
We counted at least five area runners who returned home with hardware from their out-of-state adventures.
We’ll begin in Somerset, New Jersey, where Carlisle’s Laura Barnes — a former Cumberland Valley standout who ran collegiately for Lehigh — turned in a sparkling performance at the Garden State 10 Miler. Barnes cruised at a 6:38/mile pace to finish as third female in 1:06:18.
Shippensburg’s Tasha Koenig secured an AG award at the TowneBanke Shamrock 8K in Virginia Beach, Virginia, a race that drew 6,356 runners. Koenig blazed to a time of 38:26, which earned her a third place finish in the 45-49 AG. Julia Dierwechter, of Camp Hill, took on the hills of the Forks XV 15K in Binghamton, New York, and the 17-year-old posted a time of 1:51:39 to win the 1-19 AG.
Two Sentinel-area runners reeled in AG awards competing at the St. Patrick’s Day Run Fest in Hagerstown, Maryland: Carlisle’s Kelly Dworak posted a time of 39:20 to win the 60-64 AG in the 8K race, while Mechanicsburg’s Brad Westhafer ran the 5K and posted a 31:56 to finish third in the 70-and-over AG.
Three others — Mechanicsburg’s Daniel Gaa, Carlisle’s Craig Natalis, and New Cumberland’s Julia Lershch — all nailed down smoking times in their destination races. Gaa (3:07:43) and Natalis (3:08:39) logged finishes at the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon, while Lersch threw down a 1:31:36 at the NYC Half Marathon.
Closer to home, Messiah University was well represented at the Lucky Charm 4 Miler in Harrisburg, with three former Falcons all landing Top 10 finishes in the field of 815 runners. Mechanicsburg’s Logan Horst (3rd in 30:29) and Andrew Hutchinson (6th in 20:52), as well as former Red Land standout Nate Romberger (4th in 20:30), all showed they have plenty of pop in their post-college legs. Enola’s Ryan Hartzel (9th in 21:45) and Camp Hill’s David Levy (10th in 22:25) also finished in the Top 10, while Katie Bicksler, of Boiling Springs, finished as the third female in 25:31.
The Garden Spot 10K and Half Marathon races combined to pull in more than 700 runners, including a solid group of local competitors. Brad Baker of Camp Hill led the way for locals in the half with a time of 1:49:37, while Dworak of Carlisle conquered the 60-64 AG with a time of 1:51:04. Carlisle’s Kristin Vermillion was superb in the 10K race, winning the 45-49 AG with a time of 54:00.
The rugged Franklin County hills can wear a runner down, but that didn’t stop a group of area competitors from throwing down speedy times at the Chambersburg Half Marathon. Leading the way for locals was Enola’s Stephen Schelander, a former high school and college standout at Shippensburg, who finished sixth overall in 1:16:34. Other sub-2 times were posted by Carlisle’s Christopher Diaz (1:26:53), Barry Main (1:33:03), and Stephen Myers (1:42:16), Shippensburg’s Amanda Lavana (1:34:08) and Chris Martin (1:36:23), Mount Holly Springs’ Thomas Kaden (1:34:56), Mechanicsburg’s Josh Lebo (1:48:07) and Camp Hill’s Leslie Marshall (1:55:44).
Mechanicsburg’s Shannon Gay and Jeffrey Seyfried put in a full day of work at the HAT Run 50K in Havre de Grace, Maryland, with each runner crossing the finish line in 7:48:53.
A number of others were involved in races across the region and beyond, including Carlisle’s Jessie Harpel-Fickes (1:59:27 at Yuengling Shamrock Half Marathon) and Rebekah Smith (3:35:40 at Big Woods Half Marathon), Mechanicsburg’s Lindsay Lambert (1:51:23 at Visit Tuscaloosa Half Marathon), Camp Hill’s Julia Reynolds (1:56:30 at B&A Half Marathon) and Brant Underwood (3:49:55 at Asheville Marathon), New Cumberland’s Jeffrey Slade (19:58 at Frozen Foot 5K) and Kurk Blase (25:59 at Phillies Charities 5K), Mount Holly Springs’ Elizabeth German (3:07:33 at Asheville Half Marathon), and Shippensburg’s Kelly Kramer (1:36:03 at Marine Corps 17.75K) and Chris Martin (21:24 at St. Patrick’s 5K).
And finally, a shoutout to Mount Holly Springs trail enthusiast Jed DiShong, who ran two half marathon races at Rabid Raccoon 100 Weekend in Beaver Falls. DiShong completed the daytime half marathon in 2:55:38, before returning several hours later to run the midnight half in 3:20:59.
Bunny 5K/10K/Half: Saturday, 8 a.m., in Harrisburg. Take a stroll around City Island in this event, put on by US Road Running. Register for the race on runsignup.com.
Capital 10 Miler: Saturday, 8:15 a.m., in Harrisburg. Soak in the scenery while running along the riverfront, through the Capital Area Greenbelt, and over the scenic bridges above the Susquehanna River. Learn more at capital10-miler.com.
Buck Ridge Burn 5K/10K/Half: 9 a.m. April 7, in Gardners. This challenging trail run will be followed with food and live music. Learn more at buckridgeburn.com.